\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dom has been involved in technology startups since the beginning of his professional career. He cofounded mobile payments startup Nooch, in 2010 and has since been involved in the fin tech vertical.<\/p>\n Most recently, he was the Product Lead at the Virtual Currency startup Sohalo, where he established global relationships with Fortune 500\u00a0companies, and developed the core social loyalty product.<\/p>\n Dom holds a degree in Physics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Thom Barnhardt, originally from Charlotte, NC, is Founder of CEE Business Media, Inc., which organizes Digital and Physical Awards events focused on Central Eastern Europe (especially Business Services; and Digital\/Tech). His niche is connecting CEE-based companies to international partners and investors. Awards are a big part of the events: CEE X-Tech Awards (21 October, Wroclaw), Texas-CEE Tech Summit (November 2021 in Austin), CEE Digital Services Matchmaking (Japan, US); and WolvesSummit (19-21 October); Japan-Central Europe Investment Summit & Awards (2022), and 10th CEE Business Services Summit & Awards (2-3 February 2022).<\/p>\n Previous positions: Bank America (corporate finance; 5 years, Virginia & NC), Arthur Andersen (corporate finance; Budapest), CocaCola Japan Corp (brand marketing, Tokyo).<\/p>\n Websites:\u00a0www.BiznesPolska.pl<\/a>,\u00a0www.EuropeanBusinessServices.com<\/a>,\u00a0www.CeeOutsourcingAwards.com<\/a>,<\/span> With a background in Law and Economics and an interest in Business and Technology, C\u0103t\u0103lin, widely known as Alin, is the binding element between us and the market, clients, or partners. He is among the founding members of Linnify and most importantly, his diverse set of skills qualify him as the Linnifian always prepared for the next step in our journey. He is constantly on a mission to help others bring value to the world in their unique manner, as he is a strong believer in people\u2019s ability to reach their full potential only provided that their authentic creativity has space to evolve and transform into something bigger and better, capable of taking humanity to the next level. Marina Bzov\u00eei is the Executive Director of the Moldovan Association of ICT Companies, the action leading association and the voice of the Moldovan ICT industry. Besides managing the day to day activities of the association, Marina has hands on and mindful of the interests of members and the ICT business community as a whole. Marina has extensive experience in the continuous dialogue with public authorities, strategizing on ICT policies, while critically analyzing political and legislative documents, and ensuring outreach of policies intended to develop the ICT sector. Marina is an active member of various working groups as representative of the ICT sector. She is currently leading the ad-hoc working group on digitization \u00a0within the Economic Council to the Prime-minister of RM.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Marina holds a bachelor degree in law and earned her master degree in Informational law. She continued her studies in Networking and Cybersecurity and Project Management. Marina started her career by successfully coordinating a program focused on critical thinking and rule of law, working with some of the brightest international relations specialists and legal minds throughout the world. Previously, she worked for the leading law firm in Chisinau, focusing on ICT related projects and providing business advisory services to local and international companies.<\/p>\n Passionate about art, digitalization, E-commerce, cybersecurity, data protection, AI and other futuristic technologies. Catalin Criveteanu is the\u00a0Managing Partner at Equilobe Software. \u00a0He is a\u00a0Microsoft Certified Solution Developer and Microsoft Certified IT Professional\u00a0Involved in various .NET development projects ranging from web-based reporting applications to desktop or server applications.<\/p>\n Criveteanu is interested in the mobile app market and on new cloud applications. \u00a0His specialties include Software development, Software design, Project management, Training, .NET Framework, Windows Presentation Foundation, Silverlight, ASP.NET, SQL Server Adriana Cruz is the Executive Director of the Economic Development and Tourism (EDT) division within the Office of the Governor. Cruz joins EDT with a robust background in economic development and business, having most recently served as the President of the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP).\u00a0She will lead the teams within EDT charged with promoting Texas as the best state for businesses large and small, as well as the premier destination for national and international tourism and trade. She will also work closely with local and regional economic development teams to continue to expand job creation and economic growth in rural, suburban, and metro communities across Texas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Prior to assuming this role Cruz was the President of the Greater San Marcos Partnership, the regional economic development organization established in 2010 to encourage and nurture economic growth in San Marcos, and Hays and Caldwell Counties. Cruz has more than 20 years of leadership experience in economic development, marketing, and international business. Cruz was also the former Vice President of Global Corporate Recruitment for the Austin Chamber of Commerce where she was project lead in high profile corporate relocations and expansions. Cruz holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin, has been married for 34 years to her husband Rik and has three grown children living in the Austin area.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n EDT teams within the Office of the Governor include: Business and Community Development, Research and Economic Analysis, Texas Film Commission, Texas Military Preparedness Commission, Texas Music Office, Texas Workforce Investment Council and Travel Texas. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Alex Dianu Alex Dianu is the Chief Operating Officer at Softbinator Technologies in Bucharest, Romania. Prior to joining Softbinator, he worked at Cornerstone Technologies International where he served as Business Development Manager, Senior Software Engineer, and then VP of Business Development. Alex holds a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Informatics Engineering and a Master\u2019s degree in Web Development and Database Design, both from the University of Bucharest. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Natalia Dontu Ms. Natalia Dontu is the Administrator of Moldova IT Park, a role she assumed on 24 February 2020.\u00a0She has been appointed by the Government for a period of 5 years.<\/span>Natalia started her professional career 11 years ago with a local consulting firm, being involved in business development projects and attracting funding for public authorities.<\/p>\n In 2011 Natalia joined the Tax and Legal Services team of PwC Moldova, where she provided tax and business advisory services to local and international companies over the last 8 years. Natalia was also involved in many projects aimed at improving the tax policies and tax administration in Moldova, including the tax and legal framework for IT parks.Apart from this, Natalia has been an active member of business organisations working with the Moldovan Government and business leaders to foster a more favourable business climate in Moldova for foreign trade and investment.<\/p>\n For many years, Natalia was among the main contributors to various business directories on the Moldovan investment climate.Natalia graduated the Faculty of Business and Administration at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, as well as the Faculty of Law, Economy and Management at the University of Orleans. She also holds the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation issued by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK). Dave Erickson has 30 years of very diverse business experience covering marketing, sales, branding, licensing, publishing, software development, PR, social media, advertising, SEO, SEM, and international business. A serial entrepreneur, he has started, owned and run businesses in the USA and Europe, as well as doing extensive business in Asia.<\/p>\n Prior to ScreamingBox, he was a primary partner in building the Fatal1ty gaming brand and licensing program; and ran an internet marketing company he founded in 2002, whose clients include Gunthy-Ranker, Qualcomm, Goldline, and Tigertext.<\/p>\n As CEO of ScreamingBox, he focuses on the running of the business, strategic vision, marketing vision, operational efficiency and business development to his large personal network. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Steve Frayser brings over four decades of experience in economic development, research park management and successful efforts to spur the innovation economy. He served as one of the principal staff directing efforts to create the original University of Nebraska Technology Park in 1996 and eventually became its President in 2003. Over the next nine years the Park added over 2,400 jobs, 300,000 square feet of laboratory, engineering and office space and over $68 million in private sector investment. In conjunction with corporate sponsors a $1.5 million need based scholarship endowment was created and 30 acres set aside for students to learn sustainability practices through experiential learning.<\/p>\n In November, 2012, Frayser became the first Executive Director of Texas State University\u2019s Science Technology Advanced Research (STAR) Park and a new technology incubator\/collaborative facility (STAR One). Texas State University with an enrollment of over 39,000 has been designated as a Texas Emerging Research University and is federally recognized as an Hispanic Serving Institution with unique strengths in materials, semiconductor technology, polymers, advanced nanomaterials, smart technologies and GIS tools development.<\/p>\n STAR One, the Park\u2019s incubator has been expanded twice from its original 14,000 square feet to 36,000 and is now the largest lab-based incubator in the state. STAR Park has been expanded from 38 acres to 58 with an additional 40 acres under option. Since 2014, companies located in STAR One have funded over $2.5 million in university research, hired 17 Texas State graduates, and raised more than $50 million through equity and strategic alliance investments.<\/p>\n In August, 2017, Frayser was appointed co-director of the Material Applications Research Center (MARC). A university level innovation center created to establish Texas State as a leader in the formation of integrated strategic initiatives furthering creation of an innovation led economy through applied research engagement, and entrepreneurship. Key components include development of a university wide platform for identification and development of new multi-disciplinary collaborative strategic initiatives, a robust multi-disciplinary entrepreneurship effort focused upon new venture launches and a seamless structure for support of critical research resources for public and private collaborators.<\/p>\n In addition to his research park experience, Steve has served as Deputy Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Interim Director of Technology Commercialization for the University of Nebraska \u2013 Lincoln,\u00a0 Economic Development Director for the City of Lincoln, Nebraska and Executive Director of Greeley\/Weld County Economic Development in Colorado.<\/p>\n Frayser earned his MBA from the University of Nebraska \u2013 Omaha and served as a Public Service Fellow while working on his Masters in Public Administration at Colorado State University where he graduated with distinction with his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science\/Public Administration.<\/p>\n He is active in the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) serving on its Executive Committee, chairing its Awards Committee and is an instructor for the Building Communities of Innovation training program. Frayser is also involved with SSTI, InBIA, UT-Austin\u2019s TEXVMS mentor network, TEXGHS life sciences network, MassChallenge Texas, the Greater San Marcos Partnership and the Central Texas Chapter of SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment Materials International). Elizabeth Jennings is the Managing Director of Venture Atlas Labs, a commercialization firm known for bringing innovative technologies to commercial success in some of the most challenging markets around the world. Her work in developing risk mitigation frameworks for early-stage startups are used by venture capital funds, private equity, and corporations on four continents.\u00a0<\/p>\n She is on the Board of Directors for SWAN Impact Network focusing on healthtech deals for one of the fastest growing angel networks in impact investing in the US. She frequently offers keynotes and workshops at the intersection of commercialization and investment for international trade organizations, academic institutions, accelerators, and research centers to prepare entrepreneurs with real-world tools to make stronger decisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n She serves on multiple international healthcare councils and accelerator program, as well as a board member and advisor to five healthtech startups. Following a decade living abroad, she speaks Spanish and Italian.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n With nearly a decade living in South America and Europe, she speaks Spanish and Italian reasonably well, and Portuguese, French, and Dutch with good intentions. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Zuzanna Kobrzynski<\/strong> Zuzanna Kobrzynski, is the head of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency office in Houston, TX, which is a part of a network of six US based offices. Her office covers seven states in total.\u00a0The Agency’s mission is to help Polish entrepreneurs expand and grow their footprint into the US market and to help encourage the flow of FDI in Poland.<\/p>\n Prior to joining the Agency, she ran the innovation program for the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland, administered a joint US and Poland program on innovation for Poland’s National Center for Research and Development, was the assistant director of NYU’s Center of the Cold War and the United States, and worked in both the US State and Federal governments in a variety of roles. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ivo Konstantinov Ivo Konstantinov is\u00a0currently the Head of Trade and Commercial Office, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United States of America.\u00a0His main areas of operation are centred on imports-exports and trade facilitation, investment promotion, IT cooperation enhancement, agricultural development, R&D outsourcing and exchange, technology transfers, tourism promotion, travel and transportation and new business development between the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n John Lynch\u00a0 John Lynch is an American entrepreneur who has been doing business in Poland since 1991. In 1992, Lynch founded LYNKA, which he has grown to become one of Poland\u2019s leading corporate apparel and sportswear manufacturing companies. Like many Polish ventures, LYNKA started with three employees and very little capital, and grew to over $20 million in sales and 200 employees. LYNKA has been recognized by the international press as \u201cone of the leading promotional apparel companies in the world.\u201d In 2012, Lynka became the only company in CEE to be chosen by NIKE as an Official Apparel Supplier.<\/p>\n John has a distinguished business background. From 1992-1993, John was the marketing director for the First Polish American Bank. Before coming to Poland, John worked in management at Procter & Gamble, Bristol-Myers and Schering Plough. He was also a senior management consultant for the world-renowned consultancy, Marakon Associates in New York City.<\/p>\n John graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1984, with a B.S. in Engineering. In 1989, John completed his MBA at The Wharton School of Business, and completed programs at I.E.S.E in Barcelona, and UMIST in Manchester as well.<\/p>\n John has been frequently featured in the Polish and International press as a role model for doing business in Poland. John has been featured in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and US News and World Report. In March 2004, he was featured on the cover of Poland Monthly as one of \u201cthe country\u2019s top entrepreneurs\u201d and in that same year was named AmCham\u2019s Entrepreneur of the Year.<\/p>\n In 1994, John founded the Krak\u00f3w branch of the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland. He was elected to the Board of Directors of AmCham Poland in July 2002. John is fluent in Polish and Spanish, as well as his native English. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Blagovesta Mantchev Blago<\/span><\/span>\u00a0holds a double BA in International Relations and Economics from Roosevelt University in Chicago.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Blago<\/span><\/span>\u00a0has for\u00a0the past fifteen years held various positions in different sectors of activity, such as the legal profession and recently in\u00a0the steel \/ metallurgy industry as a national buyer. In addition to this,\u00a0Blago\u00a0worked for local level election campaigns\u00a0as a “Project Manager”.<\/span><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n Blago<\/span><\/span>\u00a0enthusiastically joined the Invest division of Business France North America in December 2020, as a Business\u00a0Development Manager in Chicago and mainly covers the Midwest but also Texas with a specialty in automotive and\u00a0heavy industry. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n G\u00e1bor\u00a0Markocs\u00e1ny<\/strong> After graduating from business school with a degree in economics and international trade Mr. Markocs\u00e1ny started to work at a private owned Hungarian foreign trade company. He was in charge of design and coordination of complex programs in Latin-America and Asia.<\/p>\n He also managed civil engineering projects in Hungary and advised the Hungarian Foreign Trade Association. After joining the Hungarian export promotion agency in 2011, he was responsible for promoting complex technology exports of SME-s to Latin America, Asia and Africa. At the same time, he was the Private Sector Liaison Officer of the World Bank and the UN in Hungary.<\/p>\n Gabor started his foreign service in Mexico City as trade attach\u00e9, from where he got promoted to the Head of the Latin-American Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Hungary. In 2018, he was appointed to lead the new diplomatic representation of Hungary in Houston, TX. \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/conferences.la.utexas.edu\/texaseusummit\/files\/2021\/11\/Dominik-Andrzejczuk-.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
Dominik Andrzejczuk
<\/span>Managing Partner
<\/span>Atmos Ventures<\/span>\u00a0
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Thom Barnhardt
Founder
CEE Business Media
<\/strong><\/p>\n
www.UsaCeeInvestmentAwards.com<\/a>\u00a0www.CeeDigitalServices.eu<\/a>, www.CeeXTechAwards.com<\/a>,\u00a0www.JapanEuropeInvestmentAwards.com<\/a>
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a>
C\u0103t\u0103lin Briciu
<\/strong>Co-CE
Linnifian<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\n<\/a>
Marina Bzov\u00eei
Executive Director
Moldovan Association of ICT Companies
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Catalin Criveteanu<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Adriana Cruz<\/strong>
Executive Director<\/strong>
Office of the Governor Economic Development and Tourism<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/strong>Chief Operating Officer
Softbinator Technologies<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Administrator
<\/span>Moldova IT Park<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
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David Erickson
CEO
Screaming Box
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Stephen Frayser, MBA<\/strong>
Executive Director, STAR Park<\/strong>
Co-Director, MARC<\/strong>
Texas State University<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Elizabeth Jennings
<\/b>Principal, International at Venture Atlas Labs; Board of Directors,
Healthcare at Southwest Angel Network<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\n<\/a><\/p>\n
Head of the Polish Investment and <\/strong>
Trade Agency Office, Houston<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\n<\/a><\/p>\n
Head of Economic Section
Trade Attache at the Embassy of Bulgaria U.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/strong>American entrepreneur, writer, and speaker<\/span>
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<\/strong>Business Development Manager
<\/strong>Industries & Tech Division
<\/strong>Invest in France<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
Consul\u00a0Vice-Consulate<\/strong>
Hungary in Houston<\/strong><\/p>\n
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